The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-03-25
A GREAT MOVEMENT.
How Organized Emigration to
Kansas Saved the Slate from
the Slave Power.
Abclitionists Characterized by Eli Thayer
as the Original Secessionists'
Notes from u scrap-BoolS.

Fourth and Main streets, when passes
as an apology for a city hall in this city,
to New Worcester, the eye Of the
stranger will ut once be attracted by
an imposing structure of solid masonry,
with its towers and batLlemcnts which
call to mind the castles Of ancient
times, writes Worcester Mass. cor
respondent of The Boston Gtobs. This
unique structure is the Dread institute,
u very comfortable boarding school for
young ladies, and the emincDcc upon
which il stands was in olden times
known as Goats hill; but when the
present educational institution was built
its founder gave to Goats hill the clas-
sic name of Mont Dread.
Tho Dread institute was opened for
the reception of pupils in 1S49, and was
built by Hon. Eli Thayer, who is, in my
opinion, the most important historical
character now lying in Woscester. Ho
was born siXty-eight years ago, in that
part of the old town of McndOn now
known rs Blackstone, and when only
16 years of age he packed all his world
ly effects into a smell trunk, shipped it
on board of a boat on the Blackstone
canal, and tramped like some more of
our prominent citizens, the entire dis
lance to Worcester. His fortune CON
sisted of pluck, energy and brains, and
by their aid he carved his own way
through the world. He went to the
Worcester county Manual Labor high
school, now the Baptist academy,
which furnished INDECENT young men
with means TO pay for their schooling,
provided they had Il disposition to work.
From the manual labor school Mr.
Thayer entered Brown university. and
paid his way through college by having
been, by turns. teacher, carpenter,
wood-sawyer and landscape gardener
After graduating from college he re-
turned to his adopted city. became
principal OF the Worcester academy.
built the Dread institute. and was sub
sequently elected alderman, represent
ative to the general court and member
of congress.
Although Eli Thayer was member
of the Massachusetts, legislature in
1853, it was in 1854 that his great pub
tic career may be said to have begun.
Mr.. Lhayer's own language, that
WAS the great dominating year in the
nations history. Slavery had attained
its highest power and controlled the
government in all its branches" Sew
ard, Chase. Sumner. John Davis, Hor-
ace Greeley, John Quincy Adams, and
some of the other great men of the day
were crying ont, asif with one accord.
Slavery rules everything here. 1t is
stronger now than eyer before"
The fugitive slave law has been pass
ed, Texas annexed, the Dred-Scott de-
cision rendered. and the repeal of the
Missouri compromise anticipated. The
old abolitionists were denouncing the
apathy Of the American churches.
drawing graphic pictures of manacles,
bloodhounds, auction blocks, and adj
vocating a dissolution OF the union.
The free-state men were disheartened
and silent For quarter of a century
the halls Of congress had been battle
ground, and upon thevery day of the
repeal of the Missouri compromise
Seward said: The sun of liberty has
-. ,,,~~,, al tl,a tarr;tor;a3 noscaas;oua
of the United States. When this OBJ
scuration shall be removed none but
the Author Of Events can tell. One
thing is certain. that none Of us will
take any part in removing H. II must
be lett to future generations
About the same time Horace Greeley
wrote that "the black power rules
everything, and was never so strong as
it is this day. That bill is darkness
without one glance of light; desert
without one spot of verdure." Chase,
Giddings. and Sumner weEe giving up
in despair because the territories OF
Kansas and Nebraska were thrown
open for hand-to-hand fight between
free and slave labor. Garrison. Phillips,
and the other great minds which direct
ed the abolition movement. had moth
ing to offer but n dissolution Of the
American union.
At that time the city Of Worcester had !
the honor of being represented. in part.
in the Massachusetts legislature by Eli